Alcaraz and Williams exit mixed doubles quarterfinals at US Open
Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams teamed up for mixed doubles at the US Open but were eliminated in the quarterfinals, highlighting the tournament's new format that favors singles stars.
Carlos Alcaraz returned to competition at the US Open after a wrist injury, partnering Serena Williams in the mixed doubles draw. The pair won their opening match 5-3, 4-1 against Great Britain's Lloyd Glasspool and New Zealand's Erin Routliffe, drawing a crowd of about 15,000 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Alcaraz, playing his first match since April, said he felt nervous and double-faulted on the first point, but added that Williams helped him settle quickly. Williams, making her first US Open appearance since 2022, expressed surprise at being back on the court.
All four specialist doubles teams were defeated by pairs of singles players on Tuesday. In the quarterfinals, Alcaraz and Williams lost 5-4 (7-4), 4-1 to Italy's Flavio Cobolli and Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, ending their run. The result aligns with the USTA’s revamped mixed doubles format, which aims to feature high-profile singles competitors.
The mixed doubles event also saw other marquee pairings, such as Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic, exit early, underscoring the dominance of singles stars in the new structure.